Collapsible box or case



J. RAE.

COLLAFSIBLE BOX 0R CASE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. M. 1918.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

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J. RAE.

COLLAPSIBLE BOX 08 CASE. APPLICATION mso NOV. 14, 1918.

1,325,330. Patented Dec. 16,1919.

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James Rae,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES RAE, OF WATFORD, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE WATFORD MANUFACTURINGCOMPANY LIMITED, 01? WATFORD, ENGLAND.

COLLAPSIBLE BOX OR CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs RAE, a subject of the King of Great Britain,residing in Watford, England, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in and Relating to Collapsible Boxes or Cases, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to collapsible boxes or cases and it has for itsobject to provide an improved form of box .or case of this type.

A box according to this invention com prises a top and bottom membereach provided with peripheral walls which walls, however, at the sidesare interrupted at each end for the purpose to be hereafter de scribed.

The end members of the box are formed of substantial thickness and haverunning across them adjacent the ends, grooves designed to receive thevertical ends of the side members, such grooves being so placed thatthey are within the walls of the top and bottom members, the upper andlower edges of the said end members engaging the aforesaid gaps orinterrupted portions of the peripheral walls of the top and bottommembers. The side members of the box or case are preferably strengthenedwith battens which are so placed and are of such length that they abutagainst the outer edges of the walls of the top and bottom memberswhenthe parts are all assembled, said side members at their verticalends engaging the aforesaid grooves on the inside of the end members.

Perforations are provided in the top and bottom members adjacent thecorners thereof through which a cord or cords may be passed to securethe parts when the case is collapsed and the parts superposed ready fortransit.

The end members may also have strengthening battens upon them, and thewalls of the top and bottom are of such depth that when the box iscollapsed they form a case or receptacle to contain the side and endmembers. The battens of the side and end members are so spaced that whenthe parts are superposed for packing the battens of the side or end, asthe case may be, lie inside the battens of the superposed member.

In order that the invention may be the better understood drawings areappended in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showingthe box withcertain parts ready for assembling.

Fig. 2 is a section in the line A A Fig. l with the lid in osition.

Fig. 3 is section showing the parts in the collapsed position.

Fig. A is a perspective view showing a modification.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the case illustrated in Figs. 4; and5 in its collapsed condition.

Referring to the accompanying drawings a indicates the bottom of the boxand b the top or lid. The bottom is provided with shallow end and sidewalls indicated respectively by a 6 of which the walls at the sides areinterrupted at 0 leaving spaces or gaps at these points. The end membersof the box, indicated by d are in length equal to the width of the topand bottom of the box and each of saidmembers has running verticallythereof two grooves d said grooves being equal in width to the thicknessof the side members 6 of the box. The grooves 6Z1 are so placed withregard to the ends of members (Z that when said members are in positionon the bottom a, the said grooves may be engaged by the ends 0f the sidemembers 6 the outer surfaces of which will then lie against the innersurfaces o-f the aforesaid wall 6 When assembled in the manner justclescribed the box is sufliciently rigid to prevent displacement of thesides or end members during the filling operation.

The top Z) is also pro-vided with peripheral end and side wallsindicated respectively by 2' '5 which walls are gapped as alreadyexplained in connection with the bottom a, to engage the tops of theends members 01 of the box when the lid is placed in position to closethe said box.

When placed in position the walls 2' i on the top 6 are outside the sideand end mem bers of the said box. 7' indicates battens upon the outsideof the side and end members.

After the lid has been applied the case is corded externally in theusual manner.

In order that the parts may be secured when packed for transport thereare provided in the top and bottom members perforations 9 through whichcords or like flexible bodies 7 may be passed to secure the partstogether.

In order that the box may be readily handled without coming apart eachof the shallow walls upon the ends of the bottom memher is undercut orgrooved upon its inner face so as to form a channel designed to engage aprojection running along the bottom of the end member, which member isslid into position through a gap or opening in. the shallow walls uponthe sides of the bottom member. The member forming the lid is providedupon one side and at each end with a shallow wall, the end walls beingrecessed or undercut as previously explained to engage a projection uponthe top of the end members of the box. The side walls are gapped topermit the top to he slid into position.

An arrangement such as that just referred to is illustrated in Figs. 4:to 6 in reference to which it will be seen that the end walls a of thebottom a are undercut or inclined as shown at a the lower ends of theend members (Z being correspondingly cut or shaped so that there isformed upon them projections which may be caused to engage the parts abeing slid into position through the aforesaid gaps 0. By this means theend members are connected to the bottom in such a manner that the boxwith or without its contents may be transported by means of said endmembers.

The lid 7) is provided at each end and upon one side with shallow wallsrespectively indicated by z 2' the inner Surfaces of the end walls beingundercut as already explained in connection with the end walls upon thebottom (4 said under cut portions being designed to engage suitableprojections (Z on the end walls (Z the gaps in the side walls permittingthe sliding engagement of the parts. The wall 2' upon the lid forms astop whereby the lid is positioned so that its opposite edge does notproject beyond the desired limits. One of the sides of the box isprovided with a strip or batten b disposed upon the outside at its upperend, the width of the top being such that when closed one edge is in thesame plane as the plane of the outer surface of the strip 6 In orderthat the lid may be secured against unauthorized removal, there areprovided in it and in the strip 6 holes through which a cord h may bepassed and secured in any suitable manner,

Claims l. A collapsible box or case comprising a bottom member, a wallupon the upper surface of said bottom member extending across each endthereof, a wall at each side of such length as to have openings adjacentthe said walls, end members located inside said end walls, and extendingfully across said bottom and within the openings in the side walls,transverse grooves in the inner faces of said end members, side memberslocated Within the side walls of the bottom members and engaging thegrooves in the ends, and a top member having upon the under side endwalls extending fully across said member and side walls of such lengthas to leave openings adjacent said end walls, the top of the sides andends of the box being located within the walls of the top, the height ofthe walls upon the top and bottom of the box being such that whencollapsed the sides and ends may be inclosed therein.

2. A collapsible box or case comprising a bottom member, a wall upon theupper sur face of said bottom member extending across each end thereof,an undercut groove on the inner face of each of said walls, a wall ateach side of said bottom member of such length as to leave openingsadjacent the end walls, end members located within said ends and wallsextending fully across said bottom members, projections on the lower endof said end members adapted to engage the grooves upon the inner facesof the end walls of the bottom member, transverse grooves in the innersurface of the end members, side members located within the side wallsof the bottom members and engaging the grooves in the end members, and atop member having upon the underside end Walls extending across said topmember, undercut grooves upon the outer faces of said end walls,projections upon the under surface of the top member adapted to engagethe grooves in the top of the ends of the box, a wall upon one side ofthe top member extending between, from one end wall to the other, theheight of the walls upon the top and bottom of the box being such thatwhen collapsed the sides and ends may be inclosed therein.

3. A collapsible box or case comprising a bottom member, a wall upon theupper surface of said bottom member extending across each end thereof,an undercut groove on the inner face of each of said walls, a wall ateach side of said bottom member of such length as to leave openingsadjacent the end walls, end members located within said walls andextending fully across said bottom member, projections on the lower endof said end members adapted to engage the grooves upon the inner facesof the said walls of the bottom member, transverse grooves in the innersurfaces of the end members, said mem bers located within the side wallsof the bottom members and engaging the grooves in the ends, and a topmember having upon the under side end walls extending across said topmember, undercut grooves upon the .outer faces of said end walls,projections upon the under surface of the top member adapted to engagethe grooves in the top of the ends of the box, a wall upon one side ofthe top member extending between, from one end wall to the other, andbattens upon the outer surface of the end members extending between theundercut grooves in the end members, the height of the walls upon thetop andbottom of the box being such that 15 when collapsed the sides andends may be inclosed therein.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES RAE. Witnesses:

S. HAVENDRY, F. D. HEMMEND.

